A/N: I've just finished a whole set of exams, assignments, travelling and other appointments, so for a while I should have some extra time. I would like to finish off Night Eyes soon, before my next set of exams. And everyone was just so supportive... thank you, all of you. I know it's supposed to be 'just over the internet' or whatever, but I don't care about that; your support really means a lot to me!
To Undertaker 499: I know you don't have an account, but I simply had to reply to your review. You're spot on; and I just wanted to thank you especially for that message. I can tell you're talking from experience, and whatever it was that happened to you, I am incredibly sorry. Please continue to feel better!
Anyway, here's the next chapter. There's only a couple more left!
Chapter 29-
Hughes watched from the shadows of the doorway as the Hunters tied down a screaming Wrath. The Hunters had won; Hughes had seen it all. They'd thrown silver canisters at the Homunculi, which released some purple-ish smoke on impact. The Homunculi had nearly collapsed under its effects, which apparently sapped at their strength. Hughes didn't know what was in that gas, but he was steering clear of it. However, instead of killing Wrath and Lust for good, the Hunters appeared to be capturing them. Hughes didn't care why. Wrath writhed and struggled, kicking and biting as many of his enemies as he could, but the Hunters were unfazed. Hughes saw the glint of a needle as the Hunters injected the Homunculus. Within seconds, the boy was unconscious.
Lust was proving to be harder to capture. Every needle that approached her was smashed to bits by her extended nails, usually along with the person's hand. It seemed despite the smoke's effects, she was still able to use her deadly nails. The Hunters threw more gas on her, and she eventually succumbed.
Hughes turned away from the scene and noticed someone approaching from the entrance. He slid into the shadows, suddenly noticing night had fallen. It had been a long day, but with the night Hughes felt an accompanying sense of energy and clarity.
The footsteps echoed as the person turned into view, and Hughes relaxed. It was just Fuery. He carried Winry on his back, but she was still limp and unresponsive.
"Fuery," Hughes spoke, and watched amusedly as the young officer jumped a mile.
"L-lieutenant H-hughes!" Fuery gulped. He seemed incredibly tired. "What's happened?"
"Go see for yourself," Hughes replied with a secretive smile. "I'll take her, if you want."
"Really? Thanks." Fuery transferred Winry from his back to Hughes' arms. Her open eyes stared blankly at nothing.
"Oh, by the way…" Hughes said over his shoulder as Fuery turned to go towards the Hunters. "Why did you come? Didn't Roy tell you to stay put and protect her?" He indicated to Winry.
"Yes, but… she moved," Fuery replied, adjusting his glasses. "She hadn't made a single move since the Elders did… whatever it was… to her. But all of a sudden, she jerked towards this building. Nearly gave me a heart attack." He frowned. "She hasn't moved again since, but I thought I should see what was going on."
"I see," Hughes replied thoughtfully. That piece of information was certainly intriguing. The older vampire turned and vanished down the hallway, apparently heading down the other hallway into the tunnels. Fuery shrugged and continued up to the room.
"What the…? Havoc!" he gasped, rushing towards his colleague. The Hunters, seeing he was human, warily let him pass.
"Do you know this man?" the woman leaning over Havoc asked. She was adjusting a breathing mask on Havoc's face, and Fuery realized she was a Healer.
"Yes, he's a colleague of mine. Is he…?" Fuery bit his lip.
"He died." The healer stated, and Fuery's heart sank. "But we managed to revive him."
Fuery slowly smiled. "Then… he's alive? Will he be alright? That stomach wound looks pretty bad." Fuery went back to looking concerned.
"He's alive and stable at the moment. But we'll have to move him to a hospital eventually, and that will probably cause his condition to worsen and become unstable again. Plus, the scale of this wound…" the woman sighed. "He still may not live through tonight. Whether he lives or not is basically up to him."
Fuery sighed, and the Healer glanced up from her work momentarily. "If you want, you can stay and help. I'm sure the extra assistance could increase his chances."
"Of course," Fuery said immediately. Havoc had been a friend of his for a while, and Fuery simply couldn't imagine life at the office without him. Havoc was integral to Mustang's team.
"Well then," the Healer said, "You can start by managing this breathing mask."
Greed smiled creepily as he stood outside an odd-looking steel room. "Here ya go!"
Mustang and Hawkeye exchanged glances. There was something off about Greed's cheerful behaviour, considering he was at gunpoint.
"Watch him, Lieutenant. If he tries anything, you are authorized to kill him. Repeatedly." Mustang murmured in Hawkeye's ear. She nodded as Al wearily forced open the door, which appeared to have been broken recently.
Alphonse entered first, with Mustang following him, carrying Edward. Mustang's arms were drenched in the vampire's blood, and the Colonel could see no indication that Fullmetal was alive; but if Greed was actually telling the truth, the vampire would just be paralysed- meaning he could be saved. And Mustang was willing to try.
Alphonse gasped as he stepped into the circular room. It was filled to the brim with piles of… stuff. Some things that were piled around the edges seemed like junk; but Al could see valuable things like sapphires, jewellery, coins and weapons also scattered in the piles. But in the centre of the round room were the most valuable things of all. They sat on tables; all sorts of odd things that were clearly valuable, but Alphonse had no idea what they were or did. However, his eye was drawn to one particular thing sitting on a nearby table.
It was… mist. Golden mist, which lay on the table in the shape of a person- but remarkably never lost its shape. As Al walked closer, as if he was drawn forward in a trance, Al could see the mist-person's features. It was a young boy, with his eyes closed and hair spread out around him. Alphonse gasped as the truth hit him.
Mustang walked forwards also, watching as Al gasped in shock. He glanced down at the ethereal boy lying on the table. He seemed… familiar, somehow, but Mustang couldn't quite put his finger on where he'd seen the young boy's features before.
"Colonel… this is…." Al hesitated. "Brother's… his…"
Mustang did a double take, his gaze switching rapidly between the mystical golden boy and Fullmetal's face. Despite the mist-boy being considerably younger and more at peace, the similarity was unmistakeable. This… was Edward's soul.
The two stood there for a moment disbelievingly.
"We found it!" Al suddenly cried joyfully. He leapt forward as if he intended to snatch his brother's soul right off the table and throwing recklessly over the unconscious boy. Mustang's hand shot out to hold Alphonse back, but in the process Fullmetal slipped from his grip. Roy's eyes widened as Fullmetal fell limply, half on the table. Alphonse and Mustang gaped as Edward began to glow.
The faint golden colour surrounded the vampire, and suddenly Ed's eyes shot open. He jerked wildly, pushing himself up off the table, and froze as dread crept down his spine. Edward slowly looked down… at his soul. His time had run out. He had to make his decision now.
"Brother!" Al's face lit up in excitement, but Edward couldn't move to look at him.
"And now," Mustang began, "We'll have to figure out how to give this back to you, but… then you'll be fine." The Colonel kept his tone completely professional and impartial. There was no way on Earth he was going to reveal to Fullmetal that he'd been worried out of his mind and totally distraught at Edward's 'death'.
Edward ignored them both.
"My choice…" he choked on the words, staring unblinkingly at his soul. "To be a vampire, or human… I… I choose…"
The two humans held their breath as time itself seemed to stop.
"I choose to be a vampire." Ed whispered.